Thread: 66 Plymouth

Tweet

Hello, I new to this forum. So this might not the the place to ask. I'm normally over on Brent's other site. Clubcobra. Anyway, a worker of mine has a 66 Plymouth Belevedere with something called a 440 special engine. Any clue what this is and what it's value might be?
Richard Price
Memphis

Richard,

It's like any other car situation. There's more to value than the car name, and a partial description of the engine.

Which model Plymouth is it? How many doors? What kind of equipment? What makes the 440 special? This question because Mother Mopar never used that designation, so what does it really mean? Is it a numbers matching car, or is the 440 a transplant? Which trans? Any modifications, e.g. fuel cell, roll bars, any other boy racer silliness? Are you asking because you want to buy it, or is this just to check if he's letting his mocking bird mouth overload his humming bird butt?

440 Magnum maybe??

Hey, Being a MOPAR nut, maybe I can help a little.
I am pretty sure the '66 is a 4 door Belveder. If it is a #'s matching engine and car then it was ordered and at one time a police car.

Ma MOPAR came out with "440 Specials for police dept's only. You could order a 440 commando, or a 440 magnum for domestic use. Most of the magnums went into GTX's and such. Better performance heads and larger carbs were standard. Also back then "free flowing" exhaust.
The 440 commando went into pick up trucks and larger trucks at the time. You also will see them in some motor homes.
The 440 special was a 440 with the larger carb and free flowing exhaust , heavy duty suspencion, rearends, and trannies. Now I am not sure if they got the magnum heads or not with them. Check the front of the haeds. There will be a " X " marked on them. If so, then it had "magnum" heads as well.
There has a been a movement as of late of restoring and collecting old MOPAR cop cars.
As with anything...could be worth some money to the right person!

DCON

Thanks for all the feedback. We are going to look at the car on Wed. Will be in touch with more facts.
Richard

DCON, I had never heard the term Special used with a 440 engine before, however Ford had used the term "Police Special" for some of their engines.

So, I did some checking. You are partly correct, and I'm sure in popular usage, the term might be used as if it only applies to 440 equipped police cars. However, in Mopar vin decoding there are two areas of useage of the term "Special". Generally the second digit being an S indicates a special order vehicle, cop cars are a K.

Under engine codes (the letters changed from year to year) the term special refers to special order engines, which in fact, as you point out, the police version of the 440 could be. But they also have "special" engines in each engine line, including the six cylinder. So the term "special" is not unique to the 440, nor does it necessarily mean a police engine.

Also found it interesting that not only did they have a code for Taxi (not surprisingly T ), but that they had a unique code for New York taxis ( N ).

BOB, I am sorry I didn't have the EXACT vin codes and such for this post. The info I stated was published in Mopar High Performance magizine on a Police car restore that the Penn. State patrol was doing for thier musuem. I will send them a e-mail and correct them for you.

DCON

Well, it'll be interesting to see what Richard comes up with.

DCON, maybe you should let Streets contact the magazine. He's got so much more tact and you know how he LOVES Mopars.

BTW, I've been trying to get a response on a '67 Bevedere I, 440 and 4 speed (I'm sure they're transplants) in the Chicago area, but the jerk doesn't answer emails or phone messages. Probably sold it and doesn't have the courtesy to just send back the word SOLD.

BOB, Glad I got your attention! Can't help you with the Chicago thing!
DCON

Greetingz all,
I will be forward...found this site by trying to find info about my question.
My friend has been restoring a 1970 Dodge Charger RT from ground up......well he's basically done after several yearz. But the thing he comez to me with iz...."how can you tell what class or type of 440 engine" he has. Sure he has the numbers 2536430-9 there is also "E" stamped on engine from 69 and a "D" on the 68 440, but is there a website where I could find out by me entering my #'s? Or would anyone here know more information. All and any is greatly appreciated.